Four preachers met for a friendly gathering. During the conversation one preacher said, “Our people come to us and pour out their hearts, confess certain sins and needs. Let’s do the same. Confession is good for the soul.” In due time all agreed. One confessed he liked to go to movies and would sneak off when away from his church. The second confessed to liking to smoke cigars and the third one confessed to liking to play cards. When it came to the fourth one, he wouldn’t confess. The others pressed him saying, “Come now, we confessed ours. What is your secret or vice?” Finally he answered, “It is gossiping and I can hardly wait to get out of here.”
We snicker at that story, but we must also realize the truth in that story. Gossip is a sin many battle with. There’s just something about sharing “information” with someone else that is so tempting! But, oh, the destruction gossip can do! It is akin to slander; both sins that God hates, and that the foolish woman indulges in.
Proverbs 14:1 tells us that the wise woman builds her house, but the foolish plucks it down with her hands. It doesn’t require only that work of the hands to tear down a house. A wife can tear down with her words as well. When she says things to her husband that are demeaning and disrespectful she’s tearing down. When she isn’t building him up and encouraging, she’s tearing down.
What about the opening illustration? A church can be destroyed and pulled down by gossiping, murmuring, and angry words. A workplace is not helped by tongues that are out of control because someone is displeased with her boss or co-worker. A neighborhood is divided by unkind words spoken hastily.
Let’s get out our tools (encouraging, uplifting words) and do some construction in our homes, churches and workplaces today!
P.S. By the way, do you know what your pastor likes to do in his free time? I can tell you this; it’s not movie watching, cigar smoking or card playing!
RefreshHer 